National Republican., 1887-12-24
CHRISTMAS IN MEXICO.

Days-The "Posadas," the "Nsoimien-
tos," and the "OIIa"-Tho Journey of
Mary and Joseph Into Bethlehem
and the Birth of the Christ Chiid-An
Invitation 20 be Godmothor to tho
Infant - A Remarkable Mixture of
Fun and Religious Fancy.
Correspondence NATIONAL REPUBLICAN,
CITY OF MEXICO, Dec. 19.-In Montezu-
mas country the celebration OF Christmas
tide begins on the 10th Of December and
ends with the dawn Of the 25th. Nine con-
secutive nights are given up to social re-
unions OF semi-rellgious character, includ-
ing dancing and late suppers. On the last
one Christmas Eve) everybody attends mid
night mass, and afterward feels 10 duty
bound TO visit nine different churches aud
spend few minutes In prayer at each.
Therefore, until daybreak on the 25th the
streets are filled with people, and so IL
happens that when revelere and worship
ers have retired to their homes to seek
needed rest, Christmas itself is the most
1 quiet and unintoresting OF all days In the
Mexican year.
But there is religion and romance, fun
and feetiyity enough In the nine preceding
days--or rather In the nights-to amply
atone for dull Christmas. This year those
queer Yuletide doiDgs termed "the Pasadas"
are unusually animated, and In every patri-
clan casa and parvenu jacal arc joyful fam
ily reunions, while invitations to informal
balls are 80 many deep per diem that one
cannot attend them all.
THE PosADAs
are not OF Spanish origin, as generally sup
posed, although instituted centuries ago By
Spanish priests for the instruction OF the
Mexican Indians. The fathers aforesaid
found the darkened minds Of the conquered
Aztecs, iresh from their gretesque idol
worehip, unable to grasp the Christian idea
unless It were presented In come tangible
spectacular form, and this accounts for
many OF the remarkable mummeries which
crept into Roman Catholicism In Mexican
churches. For many years, however, the
church has not particularly encouraged this
9ntiquc mode Of celebrating the birth Of
Christ, but still the posadas are Kept up,
principally now In private houses as q
harmless amusement for servants and chill
dren, much as the old time fiction of Santa
Claus is perpetrated in the United States.
The fetes are designed to represent the
Virgin Mary and her spouse, Joseph, on
| their journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem,
| whittier they went just before Christ was
born, In accordance with the decree Of
Cesar Augustus that all should come out Of
Galilee to be inscribed for taxation. From
| the proudest Castilian dame down to the
humblest Indian mother, every woman in
| this broad land provides to the utmost Of
her ability for the nine festal nights pre-
| ceding the anniversary OF Our Saviour's
advent, and during that time the distinc-
ti0ns Of caste are comparatively obliterated,
and poems and aristocrats mingle in a man
1 ner truly patriarchal.
An accurate description of the possdas
is impossible, for to thoroughly appreciate
them one must be an inmate Of native
casa In this summer country, where fruits
and flowers are flourishiug at their best In
the balmy air Of December, and, moreover,
must be on terms OF frie1dly sympathy
with these passionate, yet superficial, these
dreamy, poetical, and altogether charm
ing people. / have witnessed the fete 10
the houses Of the rich and the novels Of the
| poor, and, though when set down In cold
type they seem like silly child's play and
superstitious mummery, assure you that
the actual scenic effect, combined with the
spirit Of the season aud the loving earnest
ness Of the participants, makes the perform
ance one by no means to be desplsed. Let
me give you prosiac
OUTLINE OF THE PICTURES
the glamor of romance and the halo OF
religious sentiment you must fill In for
yourself.
The hacienda mansion wherin / wit
messed my first posada contained so many
rooms that to have visited them all In one
day would have been wearisome task.
During this sacred season, when children
and grandchildren, relatives, even to remote
eousins, and friends, and -neighbors were as
Semble2, there were probably not less than
400 people, including the servants, lodged
within the rambling, moss.grown walls, aud
yet there was no appearance OF crowding
or confusion. By the way, one Of the most
hacienda life may be found In "Romona,"
that Incompatible book by the late Helen
Hunt jackson, In her picture OF Sonora
Moreno's abode.
In the case Of which speak brancard,
OF portable wooden platform, had been pre-
pared with moss, pasteboard, and green
boughs to represent the mountain road to
Bethlehem, and on this mimic roadway was
placed figure Of the Virgin, seated on a
donkey, while Joseph walked by her side
with staff and scrip In hand aud an augel
with outspread wings gllded before them.
The Images, borrowed from tae village
sanctuary, were appropriately dressed for
key recognized an old acquaintance, hav-
Ing seen him several times on Palm Sun
days figuring in Christs "triumphal pro-
cession."
THE BRANCHARD,
with its by no means light load, was borne
|{ aloft on the shoulders OF six maids of honor,
all dressed in white, with long white wells
and CT owns of lillies. These "attendants of
the NirgiD," as they are all called, were &C :
coppanied by six torch bearers, followed
by musicians, who played a spirited ac-
compartment to the litany. Then came the
heads Of the family, parents, and grand
parents, next the guests and childred, and,
lastly the servants. A lengthy procession,
you may be sure, each person carrying
q lighted candle.
In this order we traversed the corridors
and principal apartments OF the great casa
the line of march having been previously
marked by arches and decorations of green
branches-all chanting litany to the Vir.
gin, the responses fora pro nobiS) being
made by the children. "Pllgrms," we
called ourselves, and as we passed from
room to room, several hundred voices sing
Ing In unison with varying accent-Spanish,
Aztec, French, German, and Engllsh-the
chant swelling in sonorous notes or dying
away In dirge'like strains, family echoed by
the tail Of the procession from far-away
corridors, or ringing in the lofty vaulted
ceilings, the torches now flashing, now
wavering and growing dim, tho effect was
fantastic In the extreme.
When the pilgrims have nine times com
pleted the appointed circuit they halt at
the door of room which is supposed to
represent the residence Of Bethlehemite
fsmily, and he who personates Joseph raps
loudly with his staff and Graves shelter for
the night. To play that role successfully
the gentleman must be blessed with q
good tenor voice, the petition being In
Spanish verse, set 10 appropriate music.
The bethlehemites from within respond in